IPL 2021: Steve Smith, David Warner and 36 others finally reaches Australia
IPL 2021: After two weeks of hiatus, 38 Australians including the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins and Ricky Ponting touched down on Australian soil on Monday morning from the Maldives after the IPL 2021 was suspended on May 4 following the COVID-19 crisis in India. The Australian contingent was moved to the Maldives where they waited for Australia to lift the travel ban. Another Australian, CSK’s batting coach Michael Hussey, will reach Australia from India having recovered from COVID-19.
The group arrived reached Sydney at 7.30 AM on Monday via Kuala Lumpur on an Air Seychelles flight. However, the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner and Pat Cummins could not immediately leave the Maldives after the travel ban had expired. All the players and support staff were to return two negative COVID-19 results before boarding the flight to Sydney on May 16.
Morrison said Australia has always honoured its arrangements in the Indo-Pacific, particularly its alliance with the United States. We re very cognisant of the uncertainties in our region, and I m not one to speak at length on these things, because I don t wish to add to any uncertainty. But that s why we have the security arrangements we have in place. We have always understood the one system, two countries arrangement, and we will continue to follow our policies there . one country, two systems , I should say.
Morrison went on to say, we have always stood for freedom in our part of the world .